Group 14 Elements (Carbon Family)

C Si Ge Sn Pb
Electronic Configuration –ns2np2
Atomic size
It increases from C to Si and then after there is slight increase in atomic size from Si to Pb due to poor
shielding by d and f electrons.
Ionisation Energy
I.E. decreases down the group but the decrease is slight after Si due to poor shielding by d and f orbitals.
Chemical Properties Oxidation state
These elements have 4 electrons in their outermost shell these elements do not form M 4+ ions due to high value of
(IE1+IE2+IE3+IE4). Generally, they form covalent compounds by sharing of electrons. The common oxidation state shown
by these elements is +4 and +2. The tendency to show +2 state increases down the group due to inert pair effect.
Reaction with oxygen
All elements combine with oxygen to form two types of oxides MO and MO2. Oxides in higher state are more acidic.
The acidic character decreases down the group.

Rxn with water C,

Si and Ge are unaffected by water, but Tin decomposes steam

Chemical Properties Of CO2

(i)Acidic nature:
It is an acidic oxide and its solution in water contains unstable carbonic acid. H2CO3is not isolated in solid state but its
salt NaHCO3and Na2CO3 are known in solid state.
(ii)Reaction with alkalis:
CO2combines with alkalis to form carbonates.

Excess of CO2 converts carbonates into bicarbonates.

Lime water Ca(OH)2, turns milky when CO2 is passed through due to formation of insoluble calcium carbonate.

However, the milkiness disappears on passing more of CO2 due to formation of soluble calcium bicarbonate.

(iii) Photosynthesis :
O2 is evolved and glucose is synthesized.

Allotropes Of Carbon Diamond

It has a crystalline lattice. In diamond each carbon atom undergoes sp3 hybridization and is linked to four other carbon
atoms by using sp3 hybridized orbitals in tetrahedral fashion. In this way it makes a large 3D network of covalent bonds
making it so hard .
 Graphite
Graphite In graphite each carbon atom is sp2 hybridized and is attached to 3 other carbon atoms to form hexagonal
rings This bonding results in a layered structure in which two layers are held together by
weak Vander Waal forces.
Due to presence of one free electrons graphite can conduct electricity along its layers.
FULLERENE (BUCKY BALLS)
Fullerenes are made by the heating of graphite in an electric arc in the presence of inert
gases such as helium or argon. Fullerenes are the purest form of Carbon.
There are two types: (I ) C60 (II ) C70
C60Molecule contains 12 Five member rings and 20 six member rings .
A five-member ring can only fuse with a six-member ring whereas a six-member ring can
fuse with both 6 & 5. All the C atoms undergo sp2 hybridization.
Graphite is the most stable allotrope of carbon and therefore its enthalpy of formation is
taken as zero.
The enthalpy of formation of fullerene(C60) and Diamond is 38.1 and 1.9 kJmol-1
respectively. This ball shaped molecule has 60 vertices and each one is occupied by one carbon atom and it also
contains both single and double bond.
Silica (SiO2)
Silicon dioxide is a covalent, three-dimensional network solid in which each silicon atom is covalently bonded in a
tetrahedral manner to four oxygen atoms. The entire crystal may be considered as giant molecule in which eight-
membered rings are formed with alternate silicon and oxygen atoms.
Chemical Properties of SiO2
Silica is almost unreactive due to high SiO bond enthalpy. It is unaffected by most of the acids but is
attacked by HF and NaOH.
Silicones
They are a group of organo-silicon polymers, which have (R2SiO) as a repeating unit.
The starting materials for the manufacture of silicones are alkyl or aryl substituted Chlorosilanes,
RnSiCl(4–n), where R is alkyl or aryl group.
These chloro-silanes on hydrolysis and condensation produces silicones.

They have in general high

thermal stability, high
dielectric strength and
resistance to oxidation and
chemicals.
Silicones being surrounded by non-polar alkyl groups are water repelling in nature.

Silicates
Silicates are the compounds which contains tetrahedral SiO44-as their structural unit.

Types Of Silicates
(1) Orthosilicates

They contain single discrete unit of tetrahedral SiO44-units and some examples are as given
below :
(2) Pyro silicates

They contain two units of joined along a corner containing O-

atom. They are called as Island silicate also. They contain
Si2O76-units.
(3) Cyclic or Ring structure silicates
Their general formula is(SiO32-) or (SiO3)n2n-
(4) Chain silicates
In chain silicates two O–atoms of each tetrahedra[SiO4]2–unit
share with another [SiO4]2–unit.